Amalgamating apparatus.



c. 0, LANE. AMALGAMATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I6, 1913- LQQIAIBL I Patented Apr. 3,1917.

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C. 0. LANE.

AMALGAMATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 16; 1913.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917 2SHEET$-SHET 2. (V35 r "cums m-n m m mmm 1 mm. IVAMIInuIoN. u I

tinrrnn erm ne Parana onnrcn CHARLES 0. LANE, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AIVIALGAMATING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 16, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. LANE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Amalgamating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amalgamators employing amalgamating plates.

An object of the invention is to provide more certain and perfect means for amalgamating the precious metals contained in the pulp flowing from ore mills; and to this end provision is made for more perfectly equalizing the application of the pulp to the amalgamating plates.

Other objects of the invention are cheapness, simplicity of construction, convenience of attention, and ready assembling and disassembling for the purpose of putting in new plates and taking out the old for the recovery of precious metals.

This invention is designed more fully to take advantage by a simple and easily disassembled device of natural forces in effecting the amalgamation, and in this respect the apparatus is arranged to drop the pulp onto the amalgamating plates in the form of a spray or sprinkle or finely divided stream, so applied as to keep the amalgamating plates bright without floating off the pure gold particles, the principle being that by this arrangement the heavy material carried by the liquid in the pulp is rapidly distributed over the amalgamating plates and is made to strike directly in right lines and with minimum scouring action upon the amalgamating surfaces to which the metals that can be amalgamated will naturally ad here.

The invention may be carried out in various ways.

A further object is to provide an amalgamating apparatus adapted to not only save the gold and silver that is delivered from any ore mill, but also at the same time to prevent the surplus quicksilver flowing off in the tailings.

The apparatus is adapted to be placed at the discharge of an ore mill to take care of the pulp while such mill is operating on ore; and is also adapted to work over tail ings contained in old dumps and from which the precious metals and quicksilver have not been recovered.

The objects and advantages of this inven- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Serial No. 807,022.

tion may more fully appear from the subjoined detail description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate apparatus embodying the invention in a form at present deemed most desirable.

Figure 1 is a fragmental perspective view of an amalgamator constructed in accordance with this invention and installed at the discharge of a mill. Parts are broken away for clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is a plan of the invention shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away to expose parts otherwise hidden. The perforations are only shown in part of the distributer plates in Figs. 1 and 2 and are omitted from other parts of the view for the convenience of the draftsman.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the amalgamator.

Fig. 4 is a. front view partly broken away looking toward the mill, a fragment of the tail of which is shown.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line indicated by 02 Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section of one of the amalgamating steps and a fragment of the step above.

Fig. 7 is a plan of a blank adapted to be formed into one of the amalgamating pans.

Fig. 8 is a plan of a blank adapted to be formed into an amalgamating plate.

The frame of the apparatus may be of wood or any other suitable material and comprises side-pieces 1 connected together by back and front cross rails 2, 3. The side pieces 1 are substantially duplicates and each is provided with a series of sloping supports 4 arranged in step-like relation as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 to receive amalgamating pans 5 forming steps therewith.

The supports of each step are arranged on. the same level and an amalgamating pan 5 is supported by each pair of supports 4.

Said'amalgamating pan comprises the bot-.

detachable amalgamating plate 11 which is preferably of sheet copper equal in length to the floor of the pan and has an upturned rim 12 at the back and a down-turned flange 13 at the front, the main body 1 1 of said amalgamating plate being practically as wide as the bottom of the amalgamating pan in which it is mounted.

The sides of the pan converge toward each other forwardly, so that the pan is narrower in front than at the back and the ends of amalgamating plates 11 are cut obliquely to conform to said amalgamating pan ends.

The rear upturned rim of each amalgamating plate fits against the rear wall of the amalgamating pan when the plate is in normal position and the plate can be removed from the amalgamating pan by tilting it upward by the front edge, and thus withdrawing it from the converging ends; and may be replaced by a movement the reverse of that just described.

The pans may be constructed in any desirable manner and of any desirable material, but by preference-are bent up from a sheet-iron or steel blank, (see Fig. 7, comprisingthe bottom member 6, back member 7, of equal length with the rear edge thereof and of appropriate width, end members 8 and the flange member 9 separated by cuts 18 from theend members 8 which are thus formed with two front portions 20 that pro- I ject forwardly from the pan when the flange member 9 is turned down.

Back extensions 21 of said sidemembers are separated from the rear wall by cuts 22. Dotted lines 23, 24;, 25, 26, 27 and 28 indicate the bending lines of the sheet for the amalgamating pans.

Each of the pans is provided with an amalgamating distributer 29 comprising a foraminous floor 30, which may be of any suitable material such as a sheet iron or steel plate provided with perforations that will cause the pulp or tailings to flow down in fine streams, said distributer plate or floor being supported by a frame comprising a front wall 31 and side walls 32, 33, which side walls converge forwardly to front wall 31, and above the level of the foraminous floor, while below said floor a support is arranged comprising a rear member 34: and side members 85, said side members being preferably downward extensions of side walls32, 33; the front of the distributer being open below the level of floor 30.

In order to save free quicksilver or fluid amalgam that might otherwise escape, each of the pans except the first is provided with a mercury trap in the form of a wooden or other non-amalgamating trough 36 extend ing entirely across the space directly underneath the down turning flange of the amalgamating plate of the pan next above and said'flange is bent down so as to terminate short of. the front edge of the trough 36 so that the quicksilver which will follow the copper plate until it can drop vertically will there separate from the pulp.

foraminous floor of the distributer next in front.

Preferably the amalgamating pan, the surface of the amalgamating plates and the foraminous floor of the distributer are all forwardly inclined, and stationary, and each foraminous floor is spaced apart from the amalgamating plate below it a distance of one inch, more or less, so that the pulp dropping through the screen which forms the distributing floor will fall in finely divided streams, or in drops, or in spray, upon the amalgamating plate, by reason of which action the heavy material carried in the pulp will impinge upon the amalgamating plates for the purpose of adhering thereto.

It is important that the forwardly inclined distributing screens and amalgamating plates shall be stationary for if they are given a reciprocating motion forward. and back the pulp will be made to jump over the inclined surface while it is important that they impinge on the plates in as forcible a manner as possible and yet remain in intimate contact therewith as long as possible.

By inclining the amalgamating plate and its distributer of each pan forwardly and downwardly in a common direction the pulp is caused to flow over and through the distributer and onto the amalgamating plate in an even and regulated manner. The drops as they strike upon the amalgamating plates or the liquid thereabove become momentarily stationary thus allowing the gold to attach itself to the plate, and the pulp to then flow on. As the pulp flows down the inclined surface it increases in velocity and consequently the stream thins down, and in order to avoid agitation the distributer is arranged eonvergingly relative to the amalgamating plate therebelow, thus gradually decreasing from back to front the space through which the pulp falls, as the speed of the stream ncreases. For this purpose the distributer is arranged with a somewhat greater slope than the amalgamating plate, so that the space between the distributer and the plate decreases as the velocity of the stream increases, and the depth of the stream decreases. Such agitation as might cause the gang to sweep off values is avoided on every hand. Meanwhile the quicksilver not caught by the plate will flow on the plate and over the down-turned lip 13 to which it clings until it falls vertically into the trough and the pulp having gained a sufficient momentum overleaps the trough and strikes forcibly upon the screen above the succeeding amalgamating plate, a part of said pulp showering down at that place through the perforations and another part flowing on over the screen and gradually showering down therethrough until all has been dis tributed.

The floor of the distributer is preferably made of perforated sheet metal having perforations of about one-eighth inch diameter arranged about one quarter of an inch apart, from center to center.

Said plates may be quite thin, say about one thirty-second of an inch thick.

When the pulp. falls onto the amalgamating plate it comes to rest for a moment, thus allowing the amalgamation to take place, while with the plates heretofore in use there is a continuous flow of water and pulp over the plates so that the fine gold in such former amalgamators is thus washed along and cannot come to a stop and adhere 'to the amalgamating surface.

In practical operation of this apparatus the pulp is fed onto the distributer screen in sufficient quantity to flood the upper portion of the screen, there being, however, sufficient passageway through the screen for the pulp to ordinarily leave the lower half, more or less, of the distributing floor, free from pulp.

The pulp thus dropping in fine streams or sprays impinges on the amalgamating plate and spatters, more or less, and every particle of pulp has to come to a standstill for the instant of impact, and will then change its direction one or more times, finally flowing off down the slope of the amalgamating plate from which it flows down into the second amalgamating pan and so on.

The distributer supports rest upon the amalgamating plates, thus holding them firmly in place during operation and readily releasing them when said supports are lifted from their position thereabove.

By providing non-amalgamating troughs at the tails of the several amalgamating plates the surplus quicksilvei is collected in such a manner as to prevent it from escaping by sheer force of momentum from undue mass.

When it is desired to make a clean-up the distributers will be removed and then the amalgamating plates may be detached and the amalgam removed, or if the plates have become largely impregnated with precious metal they may be sent to the smelter for recovery of the precious metal and may be replaced with new amalgamating plates.

I claim:

1. An amalgamator comprising a series of sloping supports arranged in pairs in steplike relation; a pan on each pair of supports each having a rear wall, side walls and a front down-hanging flange, the front flanges ext-ending down over the rear walls of the forward pans respectively in succession and said pans each widening from back to front and the tail of each pan being inserted into and overlying the next pan; an amalgamating plate covering the floor of each pan and provided with an upturned rim at the back and down-turned flange at the front, the ends of the amalgamating plates being cut obliquely to conform to the taper of the pans, said upturned rims fitting against the rear walls of the amalgamating pans respectively and said pans being uptiltable by pressure on the down-turned flanges; a foraminousfloor above each pan; a frame above each foraminous floor having a front wall and forwardly converging side walls; and a support below each foraminous floor having a rear member and side members, said side members being downward extensions of the side walls of the pans.

2. An amalgainator comprising a series of sloping supports arranged in pairs in steplike relation; a pan on each pair of supports each having a rear wall, side walls and a front downhanging flange, the front flanges extending down over the rear walls of the forward pans respectively in succession and said pans each widening from back to front and the tail of each pan being inserted into and overlying the next pan and each rear wall being lower than the side walls and having its edge formed into a trough; an amalgamating plate covering the floor of each pan and provided with an upturned rim at the back and a downturned flange at the front, the ends of the amalgamating plates being cut obliquely to conform to the taper of the pans, said upturned rims fitting against the rear walls of the amalgamating pans respectively and said pans being uptiltable by pressure on the down-turned flanges; a foraminous fioor above each pan; a frame above each foraminous floor having a front wall and forwardly converging side walls; and a support below each foraminous floor having a rear member and side members, said side members being downward extensions of the side walls of the pans.

3. In an amalgamator, in combination, a series of amalgamating pans arranged in stepped relation to discharge one into another successively, said pans having an open front and converging side walls, and amalga-l mating plates removable from said pans and covering the bottom thereof, said amalgamating plates being retained in said pans by said converging side walls.

4. In an amalgamator, the combination with a stepped basic support, of a series of amalgamating pans arranged thereon, and discharging one into another successively, saidamalgamating pans having detachable amalgamating plates in the bottom, and perforated screens above and spaced apart from the plates substantially as set forth; said plates and screens being stationary and having a common downward inclination.

5. In an amalgamator, the combination with a stepped basic support, of a series of amalgamating pans arranged thereon, said pans discharging one into another successively, and successively widening from back to front and from upper to lower pan, amalgamating plates in said pans, and distributing screens over said plates, substantially as set forth; said pans and screens being downwardly and forwardly inclined.

6. In an amalgamating apparatus, the combination with a stepped basic support, of a series of amalgamating. pans disposed thereon, and discharging one into another, successively, each of said pans having an open front, ainalgamating plates covering the bottoms of said pans, a flange on each plate projecting downwardly toward the next lower successive pan, distributing screens over each amalgamating plate, supports at the rear edge of each distributing screen, extending above the screen and below the edge of the flange projecting from the plate above, and non-amalgamable troughs carried by said screen supports, except the uppermost, said flanges on the amalgamating plates extending near to the edge of said troughs to allow quicksilver to drop therefrom into the troughs while the pulp flows onto the next pan.

7. Amalgamating plates arranged to discharge one into another, distributers above said plates respectively and a trough interposed between the plates to catch quicksilver while the pulp overleaps the trough; said plates and distributors being inclined to project the pulp over the trough and onto the distributer for the next successive plate.

8. The combination with amalgamating plates arranged to discharge one to another, of quicksilver trapping troughs arranged between the plates to catch quicksilver passing from an upper plate toward a lower plate, and distributers for the pulp interposed between the trapping trough and the next plate below; the plates being inclined to cause the pulp to overleap the troughs and the troughs being above the distributers respectively.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 9th day of December, 1913.

CHARLES C. LANE.

In presence of JAMES R. TOWNSEND, L. BELLE WEAVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

